Project description:To determine the differential miRNA levels in heroin addicts, we comparatively profiled plasma miRNA expression of heroin abusers and healthy controls using Agilent Human miRNA Array.
Project description:To determine the differential miRNA levels in methamphetamine addicts, we comparatively profiled plasma miRNA expression of methamphetamine abusers and healthy controls using Agilent Human miRNA Array.
Project description:To determine the differential miRNA levels in methamphetamine addicts, we comparatively profiled plasma exosome miRNA expression of methamphetamine abusers and healthy controls using miRNA sequencing
Project description:Heroin addiction and withdrawal influence multiple physiological functions including immune responses, but the mechanism remains largely elusive. The objective of this study was to investigate the immune system function and molecular inflammatory interactome particularly the cytokines and RNA regulatory network in heroin addicts undergoing withdrawal compared healthy controls.
Project description:We report the miRNAs differentially expressed in the nucleus accumbens of adult male rats after either heroin self-administration, experimenter administered heroin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or LPS and experimenter administered heroin
Project description:Noncoding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the regulation of neuronal functions, such as learning, cognition and memory formation. However, the particular miRNAs involved in drug-induced behavioral plasticity are largely unknown. Here we report a novel regulator, miR-218, that inhibits heroin-induced behavioral plasticity. Network propagation-based method revealed several miRNAs that play key roles in drug-addiction, among which, miR-218 was decreased in nucleus accumbens (NAc) after chronic exposure to heroin. Lentiviral overexpression of miR-218 in NAc could inhibit heroin-induced reinforcement in both conditioning place preference (CPP) test and heroin self-administration (SA) experiment. Luciferase activity assay indicated miR-218 could regulate neuroplasticity related genes and directly target Mecp2 3’UTR. Consistently, Mecp2-/y mice exhibited reduced heroin seeking behavior in CPP test. These data reveal a functional role of miR-218 and its target, Mecp2, in the regulation of heroin-induced behavioral plasticity.